Storm Christoph

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs – in the Senedd at 2:01 pm on 3 February 2021.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:01, 3 February 2021

So, you will have heard me say in my earlier answer to Darren Millar that there is funding available. We've put significant funding already—over £350 million—into our flooding schemes over this term of the Government, and there is further funding available. What is important is that you have the right measures in place. So, clearly, whatever comes out of the investigation into why the homes were flooded, and I'm sure your constituents welcomed and appreciated your visit, we can then take forward whether a scheme is required—a different scheme is required.

We've also made funding available for individual homes to have flood resilience measures, so, things like floodgates. Again, the funding has gone from Welsh Government direct to local authorities, because I think that's important, that the right measures are put there. So, if you gave the funding direct to residents, they may buy something that's not actually going to protect their home any further than it is. 

I certainly would be very happy to meet with you. I recently met with colleagues Mick Antoniw and Jane Hutt, who've both, unfortunately, had flooding in their constituencies, and brought all the partners together—not necessarily with the residents, but with the partners, to have those initial discussions. And it might be worth while doing that with me and my officials and the local authority and NRW and Dŵr Cymru to have a look at some initial findings from the investigations and then maybe later on have a further conversation with residents.